Games of skill



Nov. 24, 1959 L. GlNETA v 7 2,914,327

GAMES OF SKILL Filed Oct. 2, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mi-m FIG.

NTOR. G n/e GAMES OF SKILL Lucino Gineta, New York, N.Y. Application October 2, 1956, Serial No. 613,534,

2 Claims. (Cl. 273-126) Another object of the present invention is the provision of a game of the character described, the scoring device of which is well adapted for using the game for tournament games, and which is interesting and fascinat- ,in to la b an number of ersons.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a game of the character described which is of a pleasing outer appearance, comparatively simple and inexpensive in construction, but sturdy and well adapted to withstand the rough usage to which such devices are usually subjected.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing a preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a table model em bodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the same;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fractional sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. i;

Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram of electrical parts of the score indicator;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modification;

Fig. 6 is a side view of a preferred game piece;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the game piece of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of another modification;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fractional detailed sectional view like Fig. 3 of a time delay switch for the scoring device;

Fig. l) is a view like Fig. 9 showing movable parts of the device in positions which differ from their positions shown in Fig. 9; and,

Fig. ll is a cross-sectional view on the line 1lll. of Fig. 10.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 4, the numeral 1 denotes a table top supported by legs 2 and carrying a plate 3, which is provided with apertures 4. A pair of parallel guide members 5 preferably are provided alongside the United States Patent '0 longitudinal edges of the plate 3. An electric scoring device 7 preferably is mounted on one end portion of the table top 1 near the apertures 4. I prefer to use as game pieces disk-shaped elements 10 which may be made as two circular pieces 11 and 12 joined to each other face to face. The pieces 11 and 12, which are of a considerable thickness and have rounded rim portions, may be transparent, and a picture or the like may be provided between the same, as shown in Fig. 7. As may be seen in Fig. 6, the rounded rim portions of the joined pieces 11 and 12 form a rim of the element 10 which rim is semi-circular in cross-section. This formation, which has similarity to a spherical member, gives the pieces it) a tendency to roll out of the pockets or apertures 4 after hitting the same.

Each player throws a game piece 10 along the plate 3, preferably in a whirling motion, aiming to hit one of the apertures 4. These apertures 4 have numerals which either may be painted on the plate 3 adjacent the apertures 4 or which may be visible on a scoring device. I prefer to use an electric scoring device which flashes a numeral each time a game piece 10 hits an aperture 4, so that the numeral of the hit apertures 4 are clearly visible and disputes as to which figure is to be credited to a player will be avoided. The various apertures 4 are provided with different numerals, and the player who attains the highest total of said numerals will win the game. This being the basic rule, there can be made many variations of game rules adapted to the number of players and to their expected skill in playing this game.

The scoring device 7 in the present instance consists of a casing 14 in which are displayed several electric lamps 15, each of which bears a numeral corresponding to the numerical denomination of one of the apertures 4. A movable resilient contact member 26 is mounted beneath each aperture 4, and a stationary contact member 21 is mounted beneath the member 20 on the table top 1. The resiliency of the member 20 tends to force the same upwardly, away from the member 21, so that a head member 22 (Fig. 3) secured to the member 2% extends into an aperture 4, and that an electric current passing through wires 23 and 24 is interrupted. The wires 23 and 24 are conductively connected to the members 2b and 21 respectively as well as to the terminals of a source of current. Said source of current may be a battery 25 or a plug-in contact 27. I prefer to provide my new and improved game device, particularly a portable table model, with a battery 25 as well as with a plug-in contact 27, and with a double pole switch 30 (Fig. 4), so that the scoring device may be operated through the battery 25 out of doors or in places where no electricity is available, or through the plug-in-contact wherever electric current is available. When a game piece lit presses upon a member 22, a rolling into an aperture 4, it depresses the contact member 20 and closes an electric circuit, so that a lamp l5 flashes up, indicating the numeral of the aperture 4- hit. The game piece 16, after hitting a member 22, is either forced by its inertia to jump out of the aperture 4, or it may be removed therefrom manually by a player.

According to the modification of Fig. 5, a larger embodiment of the game can be installed in a bowling alley or the like, and a conveyor belt 31 passing round a pair of pulleys 32 and 33 is provided alongside a plate 34, which has a row of apertures 35 in one of its end portions. The belt 32 is moved in the direction of the arrow 37 by rotating the pulleys 31 and 32 in a counterclockwise direction by any mechanical, electrical or manual means. Thus in this case an assistant placed near the apertures 35 will place the game pieces 10 on the belt 31, which will transport the same to, and deposit them upon, a small table 40 or the like.

According to the modification of Fig. 8, the game design of the plate 3 of Figs. 1 to 4 may be painted on a sidewalk 41, and a row of apertures 42 or the like provided with numerals is also provided on the sidewalk 41. In this case the game, which can be played by youngsters in the street, may or may not be'provided with a scoring device.

Since a game piece 10, due to its inertia, ordinarily will depress a contact member 20 only momentarily, it may be desirable to use time delay switches for the purpose of prolonging the period of time during which each lamp 15 is lighting up. While ordinary, well-known delay switches could be used, I prefer to use a device of this type specifically designed for my game. Such a device is shown in Figs. 9, l and 11, where it will be seen that an insulating member 44 is inserted with its ends into grooves 45 in a wire channel 47 of the plate 3. The wires 23 and 24 extend through the channel 47 and are secured to the member 44 as well as to resilient contact members 50 and 51 respectively by means of screws 53. A head member 54 secured to each contact member 50 extends into each aperture 4, and each member 54? has a hook-shaped outer end portion 55, which is in frictional engagement with a resilient blade 57. A blade 57 secured to the plate 3 extends into the wire channel 47 opposite each member 50. The upper surface at of each blade 57 is smooth While its lower surface 61 preferably is slightly roughened or knurled. Before a game piece depresses a head member 54, the resilient contact member 50 is in the upwardly inclined position shown in Fig. 10, and the outer end of the blade 57 is beneath the hook-shaped end portion 55. As soon as a head member 54 has been depressed by a game piece 10, the contact member 50 is bent downwardly until its end portion 55 is beneath the blade 57. In this position the contact members 50 and 51 touch each other, so that the electric circuit of the wires 23 and 24 is closed, and a lamp lights up. In order to resume the position shown in Fig. 10, the end portion 55 of the member 50 has to slide a short piece along the roughened lower side 61 of the blade 57 and has to bend the same upwardly until the member 50 is free from engagement with the blade 57. This takes time, just long enough to enable all players to notice the number of a lamp 15 which has lit up.

Since certain changes may be made in the above article and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which as a matter of language might be said to fall therebetween.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A game device comprising a game board having apertures in one of its end portions, game pieces constructed and arranged for being spun along said board and aimed at said apertures, a first contact member extended from below into each one of said apertures being mounted on said board and insulated therefrom, a second longitudinal contact member positioned above the first contact member being also extended into each aperture and being resilient and normally in spaced relation to said first contact member and being insulated therefrom and having a freely movabletend portion, a resilient horizontal blade having a smooth top surface and a rough bottom surface and being mounted on said board in frictional engagement with each one of said second contact members, said contact members constituting an electrical switch beneath each aperture constructed and arranged for normally interrupting an electrical circuit but for closing the same when one of said game pieces has rolled into one of said apertures, and an electric lamp being provided in the electric circuit controlled by each of said electrical switches so as to light up when a game piece has rolled into an aperture.

'2. A game device comprising a longitudinal game board having an end portion provided with a row of apertures and having a wire channel beneath each aperture, game pieces rollable over said board being adapted to be aimed at and rolled into said apertures, an insulating member crosswise extended through each one of said wire channels, a first longitudinal contact member beneath each aperture in said board being secured to the lower side of said insulating member, a second longitudinal resilient contact member normally in spaced relation to said first contact member extending beyond the first contact member and being secured to the upper side of said insulating member and having a hook-shaped outer end portion, and a resilient horizontal blade mounted at one end on said board within each wire channel and having a smooth top surface and a rough bottom surface and having an outer end portion located beneath the hook-shaped extremity of said second contact member as long as the same is in spaced relation to said first contact member; each one of said second contact members extending into the space beneath an aperture in such a manner that it will be depressed so as to touch the first contact member when a game piece rolls into one of said apertures, thereby the hook-shaped end portion of the second contact member engaging the rough lower surface of said resilient blade so as to have its return movement to its position above the resilient blade delayed by the friction on said rough lower surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,096,348 Maitland Oct. 19, 1937 2,201,446 Moloney May 21, 1940 2,585,153 Metz Feb. 12, 1952 2,599,902 Duvant June 10, 1952 2,630,322 Endriss Mar. 3, 1953 2,722,421 Nicholaus Nov. 1, 1955 

